What is an EasyLap Panel?

Easy Lap Panel is an external wall cladding sold on an exclusive basis by James Hardie. It is used to clad the outside walls of a residential or non-residential housing/ building construction. You can install it with ease on to timber frames by gun-nailing and on light gauge steel frames by screwing. It is one of the most preferred external wall cladding solutions due to its durability, ease of installation, weather-resistant properties and sleek and minimalistic appearance.  

What is an EasyLap Panel made of?  

An EasyLap Panel is made from a combination of 8.5 mm thick cement, ground sand and fibre product. That makes it sustainable, durable and lightweight. Since the panel’s sheets come pre-primed with roll-on textured acrylic paint, they are water and fire-resistant (adheres to bushfire attack level requirements to BAL40). James Hardie’s Easylap Panel offers a 10-year product warranty too. 

You can install it over the walls of building/ home systems with no hassles. The panel is available is in a ready-to-paint condition that makes installation all the more a cost-effective process. Its shiplap cladding along the edges leaves no space for air or water once joined.   

What is shiplap cladding?  

Shiplap cladding gets its name from being used back in the day in the construction of boats and ships. Due to their airtight and watertight make and overlapping pattern, two shiplap boards can be slotted together to prevent any leakage. This strong finish of shiplap cladding leaves no space for gaps. That makes it durable and weather-resistant. Today shiplap cladding is a key component used in the construction of buildings/ homes, either on internal or external walls. Moreover, they give the appearance of a rendered/ fixed wall minus the hassle of laying a brick wall. James Hardie’s EasyLap Panel has shiplap joints. 

Pro-tip: Remember to maintain a distance of 100mm from paved grounds and a distance of 175mm from unpaved grounds before installing your EasyLap Panel on the walls. Maintain a minimum distance of 50mm on roofs and decks. In addition to this, do not install your EasyLap Panel in a place where it may come in frequent contact with standing water. 

How to maintain an EasyLap Panel? 

The right manner to maintain your EasyLap panel depends on your geographical location, the type of residency (whether city, suburb or town) and the weather the EasyLap Panel will be exposed to. Usually, you can ask the person in charge of installation or your supplier to brief you about the maintenance requirements.  

Here’s how you can maintain your EasyLap Panel:  

• Wash the surfaces of your EasyLap every 6-12 months. In coastal zones, washing is required every 3-4 months. Note: Do not use a water-blaster to wash the EasyLap Panel. 

• Re-do the paint/exterior protective finishes, if necessary. 

• Keep a regular check on the tightness of connections like joints/sealants to avoid entry of moisture. 

• Clean out gutters and blocked pipes.  

• Prune/trim excess vegetation that is close to the EasyLap Panel.  

James Hardie’s EasyLap Panel also comes with aluminium accessories and is now compatible with HardieSmart systems and tiling.